Apparatus for providing improved identification of electrical terminals

ABSTRACT

An electrical terminal field overlay having alternate light and dark background areas to alternately reflect light from and to silhouette the terminals to make them more distinguishable.

United States Patent Walsh [111 3,778,751 [451 Dec. 11, 1973 1 APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED IDENTIFICATION OF ELECTRICAL TERMINALS John A. Walsh, Acton, Mass.

Honeywell Information Systems Inc., Waltham, Mass.

Dec. 23, 1971 Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. N01:

US. Cl 339/113 B, 339/198 R Int. Cl H0lr 3/00 Field of Search 339/17, 18, 113, 339/221 M, 276 A, 150 T; 35/19 A; 317/122; 174/112 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,300,750 1/1967 Harrier et a1. 339/18 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 236,261 6/1925 Great Britain 35/19 A OTHER PUBLICATIONS Electronics, Wire Wrap Terminations, 12-1959, page 85. AMP Catalog, Patchcord Systems, 1958, pages 5, 16, and 17, 1

Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerLawrence J. Staab Attorneylohn S. Solakian et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT An electrical terminal field overlay having alternate light and dark background areas to alternately reflect light from and to silhouette the terminals to make them more distinguishable.

13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED IDENTIFICATION OF ELECTRICAL TERMINALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to electrical terminals and more particularly to means for making the terminals more distinguishable.

An electrical terminal in a field of electrical terminals extending for example from a circuit board and for example associated with a plurality of connectors is not easily distinguishable particularly where the terminals are closely spaced. The total presentation of the field of terminals is that of countless reflections and shadows from dull to bright, with interference patterns which undulate as the viewpoint changes. The problem is to visually isolate each closely spaced terminal in a large field of terminals with the greatest assurance of accuracy consistent with low cost.

In the prior art, terminal numbers are usually printed next to the terminals, however, the numbers repeat for each group of terminals and usually since the terminals are closely spaced, the number designation for one terminal may be mistakingly identified as that of another terminal. The present invention may be utilized with this numbered terminal arrangement of the prior art to further enhance the terminals.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means for more easily distinguishing each electrical terminal in a field of electrical terminals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purposes and objects of the present invention are satisfied by providing an overlay for use with a field of electrical terminals coupled with a circuit board. The overlay may be printed on the circuit board or may be a separate mask which may he slipped over the terminals. The overlay is provided to cover a random background and presents an orderly scheme for identifying terminal position and locating associated connector slots. The overlay is provided with alternate light and dark backgroundareas to control terminal reflections and assures contrast between the terminals and the background. Strong identity of connector slots is also achieved by the placement of the light and dark areas. Further, the light-background area may be divided into blocks each encompassing a group of terminals, with alternate blocks having first and second light colors such as white and light blue or light orange. Use of alternate blocks provides different colored and grouped reflections on the terminals thereby providing further distinction between the terminal groups. Selected terminals in the field may be further identified on the overlay by numbers printed thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages of the foregoing configuration of the present invention become more apparent upon reading the accompanying detailed description in conjunction with the figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal field without the apparatus of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal field with one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a terminal field with another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention as it may appear in separate overlay form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of pin-like terminals 10 coupled with a circuit board 12. The crosssection of the terminals is shown to be square or rectangular in shape but may be circular or triangular, etc., in shape without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, the terminals 10 are illustrated in row and column arrangement. Such arrangement is not absolutely necessary in conjunction with the overlay apparatus of the present'invention. For example although the apparatus of the invention would best be utilized with terminals arranged in rows, it need not be utilized with such terminals arranged in columns. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that without the overlay apparatus of the present invention, the terminals 10 are not readily distinguishable, i.e., if one were to locate a desired terminal and be distracted, later identification of the same desired terminal would be somewhat difficult.

FIG. 2 illustrates terminals 10 with one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention wherein the space between rows of terminals are alternately colored with light background areas 14 and dark background areas 16 on the circuit board 12. Thus in the foreground of a first row of terminals 18 is a dark background area 16 and in the background of such first row of terminals 18 is a light beackground area 14. Further in the foreground of a second row of terminals 20 is a light background area 14 and in the background of such second row of terminals 20 is a dark background area 16. Accordingly, with any available light, a dark reflection will be seen on the foreground of each terminal of the first row of terminals 18, i.e., the first row of terminals 18 is silhouetted against the light background area 14. The dark reflection on the terminals in row 18 will be darkest near the bottom closest to circuit board 12 and will become less dark toward the top of such terminals. The dark reflections on the foreground of terminals in row 18 are further enhanced since they are viewed against the light background area 14.

Thus the first row of terminals 18 reflect the dark background area 16 and are contrasted by the light background area 14. The second row of terminals 20 reflect the light foreground area 14 and'are contrasted against the dark background area 16. This arrangement is alternated for the rows of terminals so that the first, third, fifth, etc., rows of terminals reflect the dark color of dark background area 16 and so that the second, fourth, sixth, etc., rows of terminals reflect the light color of the light background area 14. The increased visibility of the terminals is readily apparent even though wires (not shown) are connected to the terminals usually near the bottom of the terminals adjacent the board 12. However should one desire, a separate overlay mask as shown in FIG. 4 may be utilized, which mask would he slipped over the terminals thereby covering the wires.

The position for the connectors (not shown) may also be indicated by the white background areas 14. Thus where the connectors have two parallel rows of terminals, the body of the connector is identified to be between such two rows of terminals under the white background area 14. For example if the row of terminals l8 and the row of terminals 20 define the two rows of terminals of the connector, then the connector is knownto be under the first light background area 14 at the bottom of HO. 2. It should also be understood that the connector may lie alternatively under the dark background areas 16. Thus one can readily move from one row to another or take his eye away from one row and come back to that row much more easily than he would without the overlay apparatus of the present invention. The border perpendicular to the rows of terminals may be the same color as the dark background areas 16 as shown in FIG. 2 or may be any other color such as that of the light background areas 14.

It has thus been seen how one can distinguish between adjacent rows much more easily than the prior art allowed. in FIG. 3 a further embodiment of the apparatus of the invention is shown. The terminals are shown in similar arrangement as was shown in FIG. 2. The further embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is indicated by the change in color of groups of areas in the light background areas 14. That is, to distinguish a group of terminals at a time, the light background area is divided into groups which encompass a predetermined number of terminals, for example five terminals per row or 10 terminals per group as shown in FIG. 3. Thus the light background areas 14 are shown to include first colored areas 22 and second colored areas 24. Both areas 22 and 24 remain as light colors, however area 22 is of perceptibly different value than area 24. The reflections from areas 22 onto the pins distinguish over the reflections from areas 24 so that one can now not only distinguish readily between adjacent rows but can also distinguish readily between groups of terminals 10. As mentioned, the areas 22 and 24 are shown to encompass a group of five terminals along a row. Thus ten terminals of a connector, that is five terminals in the dark reflected row of terminals and five terminals in the light reflected row of terminals are readily grouped and easily distinguishable.

The first light background area 14 at the bottom of FIG. 3 includes areas 22 which are not in alignment with the areas 22 of the second or next from the bottom light background area 14 of FIG. 3. That is, the light background areas include areas 22 and 24 in staggered arrangement. This is done so that columns do not become evident in such a way that undue significance is placed thereon. Although this is not required, it is desirable. Also, the areas 22 in every other light background area may be one light hue and the areas 22 in the other alternate light background areas may be another light hue where both hues have preferably the same value. This is more specifically shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates an overlay mask 30 which may be utilized with an existing terminal field, that is, one which does not have the overlay printed directly on the circuit board 12, or the mask of FIG. 4 may be used even though the overlay is printed on circuit board 12. The dark areas 16 are shown in addition to the light areas 14. The areas 22 for alternate rows are shown to be of different colors by the cross hatching shown. In addition, slots 26 are provided to fit over for example five terminals each in order to easily slip the overlay mask 30 over the terminal field. Note that the slots 26 may have been holes for each terminal or any other convenient arrangement. Further, selected numbers further identifying the terminals may be printed on the overlay 30 or diretly on the board 12 if a separate mask 30 is not used. This is shown for example in the upper light colored area 14 of FIG. 4. The numbers are shown to be for the first and for the 10th ofa group of 10 terminals of a connector therebeneath. In this case the connector includes seventy terminals. Note that although connectors having parallel rows of terminals have been discussed herein, it is possible that the apparatus of the invention may be utilized with for example intergrated circuit terminals or any similar device.

More particularly, the apparatus of the invention in one embodiment has included colors in the respective areas such that the dark background areas 16 have been black, the light background areas have been white; and where the light background areas 14 have been divided into groups, the areas 24 have been white and the areas 22 have been grey. Further in another color configuration, the dark areas 16 have been colored dark blue, the areas 24 have been colored white and the areas 22 have been light blue for alternate ones of light colored areas 14 and light orange for the other alternate ones oflight colored areas 14. Further the apparatus of the invention has been utilized with terminals which have been either silver, tin colored or gold in color. The separate overlay mask 30 as shown in FIG. 4 has been implemented to reflect the size of a submodule of the equipment to be utilized therewith. That is a repairman may have a single such overlay 30 with him in order to identify terminals of the submodule. A typical such submodule with which the apparatus of the invention has been utilized has included 12 rows of terminals or 6 connectors, the connectors having pins each.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new and novel and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for providing improved identification of electrical terminals extending from a surface so that light reflections are controlled to make said terminals more distinguishable, said apparatus comprising:

A. a dark background area on said surface on one side of a first group of said terminals;

B. a light background area on said surface on the other side of said first group of said terminals;

C. a second group of said terminals, wherein said light background area is on one side of said second group,

D. another dark background area on said surface on the other side of said second group of said terminals;

E. said first and second groups are arranged in first and second rows respectively, and wherein said first and second rows are substantially parallel to each other; and wherein F. said dark and light background areas define borders at their interfaces, a major portion of each interface lying substantially in a plane defined by one of said rows.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the color of said light background area is white and wherein the color of said dark background area is black.

3. Apparatus for providing improved identification of electrical terminals extending from a surface so that light reflections are controlled to make said terminals more distinguishable, said apparatus comprising:

A. a dark background area on said surface on one side of a first group of said terminals;

B. a light background area on said surface on the other side of said first group of said terminals;

C. a second group of said terminals, wherein said light background area is on one side of said second group;

D. another dark background area on said surface on the other side of said second group of said terminals; wherein E. said first and second groups are arranged in first and second rows respectively, and wherein said first and second rows are substantially parallel to each other; and wherein F. said light background area includes first and second alternate subareas, said first and second subareas having first and second colors.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the color of said dark background area has a value approaching black, the color of said first subarea has a value approaching white, and the color of said second subarea has a value between said value approaching black and said value approaching white.

5. Apparatus for providing improved distinguishability of pin-like terminals in a field of pin-like terminals extending from a surface, said field including a plurality of rows of terminals, each of said rows including a plurality of terminals, said apparatus comprising:

A. dark background areas on said surface between first alternate rows of said terminals;

B. light background areas on said surface between second alternate rows of said terminals; whereby some of said terminals are silhouetted to make them appear darker and whereby light reflects off of others of said terminals to make them appear lighter; and

C. said dark and light background areas defining borders at their interfaces, a major portion of each interface lying substantially in a plane defined by one of said rows.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the value of said dark background area approaches black and wherein the value of said light background area approaches white.

7. Apparatus for providing improved distinguishability of pin-like terminals in a field of pin-like terminals extending from a surface, said field including a plurality of rows of terminals, each of said rows including a plurality of terminals, said apparatus comprising:

A. dark background areas on said surface between first alternate rows of said terminals;

B. light background areas on said surface between second alternate rows of said terminals; whereby some of said terminals are silhouetted to make them appear darker and whereby light reflects off of others of said terminals to make them appear lighter; and

C. wherein said light background areas are divided into first and second subareas, each of said subareas encompassing a group of said terminals, said first subarea being lighter than said second subarea, so that groups of said terminals along a row are easily distinguishable.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first subareas of every other light background area are in column-like registration.

9. Apparatus for providing identification of pin-like terminals extending from a surface so that light reflections are controlled to make said terminals more distinguishable, said apparatus comprising:

A. rows of closely spaced pin-like terminals;

B. planar strips on said surface of alternately different colors extending parallel to and between said rows, wherein the plane of said strips is transverse to the length of said terminals, and

C. said planar strips of different colors defining borders at their interfaces, a major portion of each interface lyingsubstantially in a plane defined by one of said rows.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said colors are alternately dark and light.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said plane is perpendicular to the length of said terminals.

12. The combination comprising: A. a first support; B. a plurality of rows of closely spaced pin-like terminals extending from said first support; and C. a second support having rows of apertures for accepting said terminals, said second support further provided with 1. dark background strips for registration between first pairs of rows of said terminals,

2. light background strips for registration between second pairs of rows of said terminals, and

3. said dark and light background strips defining borders at their interfaces, a major portion of each interface lying substantially in a plane defined by one of said rows of apertures.

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said light background strips are divided into first and second areas, each of said areas placed for registration with a group of said terminals, and wherein said first and second areas are different in color. 

1. Apparatus for providing improved identification of electrical terminals extending from a surface so that light reflections are controlled to make said terminals more distinguishable, said apparatus comprising: A. a dark background area on said surface on one side of a first group of said terminals; B. a light background area on said surface on the other side of said first group of said terminals; C. a second group of said terminals, wherein said light background area is on one side of said second group; D. another dark background area on said surface on the other side of said second group of said terminals; E. said first and second groups are arranged in first and second rows respectively, and wherein said first and second rows are substantially parallel to each other; and wherein F. said dark and light background areas define borders at their interfaces, a major portion of each interface lying substantially in a plane defined by one of said rows.
 2. light background strips for registration between second pairs of rows of said terminals, and
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the color of said light background area is white and wherein the color of said dark background area is black.
 3. Apparatus for providing improved identification of electrical terminals extending from a surface so that light reflections are controlled to make said terminals more distinguishable, said apparatus comprising: A. a dark background area on said surface on one side of a first group of said terminals; B. a light background area on said surface on the other side of said first group of said terminals; C. a second group of said terminals, wherein said light background area is on one side of said second group; D. another dark background area on said surface on the other side of said second group of said terminals; wherein E. said first and second groups are arranged in first and second rows respectively, and wherein said first and second rows are substantially parallel to each other; and wherein F. said light background area includes first and second alternate subareas, said first and second subareas having first and second colors.
 3. said dark and light background strips defining borders at their interfaces, a major portion of each interface lying substantially in a plane defined by one of said rows of apertures.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the color of said dark background area has a value approaching black, the color of said first subarea has a value approaching white, and the color of said second subarea has a value between said value approaching black and said value approaching white.
 5. Apparatus for providing improved distinguishability of pin-like terminals in a field of pin-like terminals extending from a surface, said field including a plurality of rows of terminals, each of said rows including a plurality of terminals, said apparatus comprising: A. dark background areas on said surface between first alternate rows of said terminals; B. light background areas on said surface between second alternate rows of said terminals; whereby some of said terminals are silhouetted to make them appear darker and whereby light reflects off of others of said terminals to make them appear lighter; and C. said dark and light background areas defining borders at their interfaces, a major portion of each interface lying substantially in a plane defineD by one of said rows.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the value of said dark background area approaches black and wherein the value of said light background area approaches white.
 7. Apparatus for providing improved distinguishability of pin-like terminals in a field of pin-like terminals extending from a surface, said field including a plurality of rows of terminals, each of said rows including a plurality of terminals, said apparatus comprising: A. dark background areas on said surface between first alternate rows of said terminals; B. light background areas on said surface between second alternate rows of said terminals; whereby some of said terminals are silhouetted to make them appear darker and whereby light reflects off of others of said terminals to make them appear lighter; and C. wherein said light background areas are divided into first and second subareas, each of said subareas encompassing a group of said terminals, said first subarea being lighter than said second subarea, so that groups of said terminals along a row are easily distinguishable.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first subareas of every other light background area are in column-like registration.
 9. Apparatus for providing identification of pin-like terminals extending from a surface so that light reflections are controlled to make said terminals more distinguishable, said apparatus comprising: A. rows of closely spaced pin-like terminals; B. planar strips on said surface of alternately different colors extending parallel to and between said rows, wherein the plane of said strips is transverse to the length of said terminals, and C. said planar strips of different colors defining borders at their interfaces, a major portion of each interface lying substantially in a plane defined by one of said rows.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said colors are alternately dark and light.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said plane is perpendicular to the length of said terminals.
 12. The combination comprising: A. a first support; B. a plurality of rows of closely spaced pin-like terminals extending from said first support; and C. a second support having rows of apertures for accepting said terminals, said second support further provided with
 13. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said light background strips are divided into first and second areas, each of said areas placed for registration with a group of said terminals, and wherein said first and second areas are different in color. 